China Masters: Heartbreak in Final! Satwiksiraj Rankireddy Chirag Shetty loses from South Korean Duo | Badminton News – The Times of India

India’s men’s hubbels stars satwiksiraj rankireddy and chirag shetty suffering one last heart and went to World No.1 Kim won Ho and SEO Seung Jae in the China Masters Super 750 final on Sunday. The South Koreans achieved the Summit Clash 21-19, 21-15 in 45 minutes and denied the Asian Games champions what their first title of the season would have been. Satwik and Chirag had entered the final without dropping a competition all week, their world championships bronze medal and a second place at the Hong Kong Open. They looked early in the control and led 14-8 in the opening match after a sharp series of sloping smashes and Chirag’s agile net game. But the momentum slid away. A lost video challenge disrupted their rhythm and Kim-Seo took eight of the following nine points to a level at 15-All. Despite short resistance, mistakes on Chirag’s network and tight defensive play of SEO that the Indians surrendered the opener with 19-21. Satwik and chirag change lace, started clear again. On 3-2, Chirag produced an in between-the-backer, shortly thereafter followed by Satwik who did the same and lifted the crowd. They pushed 8-6 forward and used their characteristic steep smashes to pierce the Korean defense. However, the rapid interceptions of SEO and the resilience of Kim were able to live the tide and at some point a rally alive while he stopped on the floor. From 10-11 on the interval, the Koreans built a decisive four-point pillow on 15-11. Chirag’s mistakes under pressure, and the World No.1 pair closed the game without hesitation. For Kim and SEO, the victory marked their seventh title of the season of nine finals, which contributed to their world championships Gold and super 1000 triumphs at the All England and Indonesia Open.

For Satwik and Chirag it was another memory of how narrow the margins at elite level can be. Their run to a second consecutive final showed how good their shape is, but the waiting for a title in 2025 continues.